Disclaimer. This video is visually work appropriate. But, it contains alot of foul language. For those of you new to reading my posts. I keep this site PG rated as best I can. Trust me I am not a prude, please know that always. I’ve always listened to music for the rhythm and beat. Not the words and this is one of those songs. It has absolutetely nothing to do with the words.

Of course you’ve already clicked on the video before reading the post but I hope you will read the story behind it now. I took my own interpretation of the sound and how the Everywhereist changed my white walls. As changing my life. What’s unfortunate is that she will never read this.

This post was originally going to be dedicated solely to my very, very close buddy Hendrix. Alot of people call him Jimi. Get it? To me he’s always Hendrix. But, I’m also dedicating it to new blogger friend, Suzanne, who has changed my world as far blogging.

I’m a 70’s and 80’s rock music kind of guy. All day long. You name the group I know it as long as it’s not too far off the mainstream channel. But, over the years I’ve become far more open-minded as my close friends Anne, Chareese, Hendrix, Kelli and Tony have said, “Hey, check this out.” I will listen to what they have shared and a whole new world opened up.

Three weeks ago in the parking lot I was talking with Hendrix. He’s the one who got me to do my new Music Mondays category and change my own white walls. And I’ve dropped the ball. Here’s why.

A lady I made friends with, Suzanne, told me about blog hops. She is a brilliant, very kind, semi-retired lawyer and her husband is a doctor. But, one of those doctors that only the elite become. You can go to her site and read for yourself. They travel all over the world and she is a beautiful writer. And she’s dang funny. She’s become like an Aunt to me and she’s not old at all. And for those of you who know my relationship I have with my Aunt that is the biggest compliment a friend can ever receive from me. But, I’m always firing off questions to her and she answers right back. So, this is dedicated to her also. Thank you Suzanne, I get better every day at this because of you.

Oh blog hops are where you post your story to a theme. You are on the honor system to read and comment to everyone else’s posts which I do religiously. It’s very time consuming but very, very rewarding for the interpersonal communication. I learned this from my estranged (now deceased) college instructor mother. I miss you so much mom. I hope you’re watching what I’m doing. I want to make you so proud!

I was going to name off all of the new people I met into this one blog. But, then I realized I will do so over time individually. I get to talk to people all over the world now! Jamaica, Belgium, New Zealand, Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong and all over the United States. Ok it’s a long list.

Phoenix just came trotting into room, those alive with life eyes of his, and looked at what I had written, “Is this headed somewhere or yada, yada, yada….?”
Me, “Stop it. I’m getting there.”
Him, “I don’t get the music part….”
Me, “I’m getting there!”
Phoenix, “Alright! So write! Sheesh…”

Every time I say, “I can’t do that.”
Hendrix says, “But, you can. Either you choose to or not to. But, when you write it’s always a huge success.”
I know, he’s like a real life Yoda to me.

So, we are out in the parking lot talking after work about my Music Mondays. And Hendrix says, “I’m hoping you put something up someday that all of us say, wow, he listens to that?!”
I said, “I don’t have that.”

It was the very next day I read a post from one of my favorite bloggers, Geraldine, at the Everywhereist. Everyone wants to be her. I sure do. Her blog is a love letter to her husband Rand Fishkin. who is an SEO wunderkind. I like girls but he is gorgeous. She is amazing. And about a week ago I was really put off by her. I had gone back into her archives and read everything she had written. I had commented on her posts here and there. I sent her one email a year ago. I sent her one message on twitter. And one message on Facebook. It’s so frustrating to have someone inspire you with all of your heart and not hear from them. That’s a me problem. Here please go read her stuff here, you will be hooked like I was a year ago. I have buddies who read her site to this day because I told them, “This will rock your world.” They live in my favorite city in the world, Seattle.

Then it occurred to me. She is busy enjoying life and most of all…writing. Not worrying about responding back. The light bulb went on in my noggin’.

Her husband is a SEO genius and I’ve learned everything I know about it from him with making my site very visible on the Internet despite being such a baby site in the world.

The post she put up was a bunch of links she sends out weekly. I highly encourage you to check it out and everything she writes for that matter. But, one specific link was that the music group Macklemore had shut down her neighborhood in Seattle for the night. I live in Reno but Seattle is my favorite city in the world. No, I haven’t traveled the world.

A video played of Macklemore’s ‘White Walls’. They played on top of Dick’s Drive In of which I’ve missed making it to each time. That and Canlis…next time. I will not whiff on getting to each. So this song starts playing and it sounds like rap. I’m not a rap fan though there are some great ones out there. I was about to click off but 50 seconds into it the female voice comes in to do the riff or turn or whatever it’s called. I came to find out it’s this girl here.

It was 2 a.m. in the morning and Phoenix was sleeping and I hollered, “Phoenix, check this out!!!” I cranked up the volume. I went online and read where several people that night at the concert attended to hear that Holli’s riff 50 seconds into the song. She is not a member of the band. She has a BEAUTIFUL voice. And it’s not rap, it’s hip hop. Something totally new to me and I’ve listened to this song probably 500 times now.

I love to dance but I’m way too shy. I’m not Elaine (Seinfeld) horrible but I’m just never comfortable. We all have our fetishes. A girl who can dance to music is the sexiest thing ever and rocks my world!

Mike Vogler

I have been told (many times) that I really need to write a book about my life. The past 50+ years have been an exciting ride, and these days I find myself with a great many passions. However, I feel that this website is a much more personal way with which to share my musings, stories and commentary.

19 Responses to “I Changed My White Walls Because Of The Everywhereist”

Mike, this is really too kind. One of the best parts of blogging for me has been the opportunity to virtually meet people all over the world. I’ve even gotten to meet some of them for real as they passed through Philly and at a travel blogger conference I attended in Toronto in June. And speaking of dogs, Mr. Phoenix, one of my favorite bloggers is a bilingual (French and English) long haired chihuahua named Montecristo. I even stayed with him and his bipeds when I visited Ottawa. (He actually blogged about our visit. http://www.montecristotravels.com ). Uh oh. Phoenix might stay agitating to have his own blog if you show him Montecristo’s.

Helping other bloggers ( not that I’m not a neophyte myself) is also a way of paying forward the kindnesses shown to me by more established travel bloggers. ( I don’t hear from Geraldine either, but she also is an inspiration for me too and I believe it was she who, unwittingly perhaps, introduced us —so it’s all good 🙂
Write on!

I’ve had the fun of getting to know Suzanne as well – she is lovely and she is funny. I’m finding the world of blogging is HUGE, but I have also found that groups of bloggers connect with one another and become very supportive smaller communities.

I make a point of responding to all comments posted on my blog because I feel if someone takes the time to read and respond, I’m grateful and want to thank them for reading.

Hi Patti, yes Phoenix does have his own FB page but I’m pushing the envelope just keeping up as it is! I thought about that exact thing with the smaller community withing the bigger blogging world. And it’s becoming even more enjoying because I get to keep seeing the same bloggers! 🙂

Nice Mike!
All of us that know you personally, know this is a shocker with the Macklemore thing! But to be fair, you do give everything that is suggested to you a chance.
Very happy to see your site evolving and growing each day.
Also neat to see this community of blogger respond! Keep going!

I agree that Suzanne of Boomeresque is cool, with very positive energy. And I, too, love 70’s and 80’s rock music.

Noticing that Phoenix is the love of your life, I wanted to mention that I’m currently rereading one of my favorite books: Merle’s Door, by Ted Kerasote. It’s about the love of his life — a dog named Merle — and some profound and surprising things Merle taught him about dogs. At any rate, it’s on the Books I Love page of my blogsite.

Finally, thanks for your visit and comment today; I just replied to it.

Mike, fun post and thanks for embedding the links (a for setting them to open in a new window) – following the links and reading your text in tandem made me feel like I was there with you… despite the fact that I’m like Phoenix and chasing rabbits in my dreams at 2am. 😀

Hi Jan, yes Geraldine is an amazing writer! And her brain tumor story is write when I started reading her blog. It was a real attention getter with regards to how short life is and how positive someone could approach that kind of news.